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SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has announced changes to his Cabinet line-up.
Most of the changes involve new or additional portfolios for the younger Ministers who entered Parliament following the 2001 General Election.
Mr Lee says that this time, he has appointed more office-holders with specific responsibilities.
Said Mr Lee, "In the past, we used to appoint people to more than one appointment at a time, so you would have Education and Defence, Finance and Transport, or some combination like that. It was to stretch our people and make a virtue out of necessity. But this time, I have put in more MOS’s and Parl Secs. It's an opportunity to test people out, to expose them, to see who will grow, and to make as many of them succeed as possible.
"Not all will necessarily stay -- some will go back to backbenchers; some will go back to private sector."
Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been given a second portfolio and will serve as the Second Minister of Finance, while Mr Raymond Lim takes over as Transport Minister from Yeo Cheow Tong, who is retiring.
Mr Lim, who will relinquish his appointments as Second Minister for Finance and also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, will however continue as the Second Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan stays on as the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, but he has also been appointed Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.
He will give up his Second Minister for Trade and Industry portfolio.
Other changes see Senior Minister of State Dr Balaji Sadasivan swopping his appointment in the Health Ministry for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, while continuing as the Senior Minister of State in MICA.
In his place, Mr Heng Chee How will take over as Minister of State for Health.
Mr Heng will give up his appointments in National Development as well as Mayor of Central Community Development Council.
Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed has been promoted to Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; while Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee has been promoted to Minister of State for Defence.
Several new faces fielded by the People's Action Party in the recent General Election will also be appointed to office.
Ms Grace Fu will take up the post of Minister of State for National Development; Mr Lee Yi Shyan will be Minister of State for Trade and Industry; and Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew is Minister of State for Education.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli has been appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education, while Mr Teo Ser Luck is the new Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports.
Re-elected Members of Parliament who will take up new positions are S Iswaran, who will be the Minister of State for Trade and Industry from July 1; Dr Amy Khor, who will become the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources; and Zainudin Nordin, who takes over from Mr Heng Chee How as Mayor of Central CDC. - CNA /ct
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